Shana is a young girl who was in a bus accident a few years ago. Since her accident, Shana is only able to remember people she had met before the accident and instances from her childhood. However, she is unable to remember people she met recently or events that are currently happening in her life. She reads the same newspaper for several days without realizing that she has read it before. The accident has disabled Shana's ability to permanently store new information because she sustained an injury to her _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The hippocampus is responsible for the formation and storage of new memories. Therefore, damage to the hippocampus can result in the inability to form new memories, which is consistent with Shana's condition. The reticular formation is involved in regulating sleep and arousal, the cerebral cortex is responsible for higher cognitive functions such as problem-solving and decision-making, and the corpus callosum is responsible for communication between the two hemispheres of the brain, none of which are directly related to memory formation and storage.

Shana Is a Young Girl Who Was in a Bus